Blocke repeats as LOViT marathon champ

Christophe Blocke shaves 10 minutes off his winning time last year as he repeats as winner in this year’s race.

Christophe Block, hailing from Roland, finished first for the second year in a row in the 7th Annual Lake Ouachita Vista Trail (LOViT )Marathon, with a total time of 3:36:21 Block also won last year with a time of 3:46:30. This year Block improved his time by over 10-minutes.
Katerine Seywerd, a Little Rock runner, turned in a time of 4:47 to show she was the fastest female runner in Saturday’s event.
The race has become a popular stop for runners from throughout Arkansas, as well as surrounding states, as they work to keep in shape during the winter months, according to race organizer Phillip Carr. He noted that many of the runners have participated in the race since its beginning.
The 26.2 mile race begins at the LOViT Trailhead just off Hwy 270 and Shangri-La Drive and winds around the scenic trail to the top of Hickory Nut Mountain before returning to end back at the starting line.
This year’s race saw 92 runners participate, up from 64 last year, according to Carr. “It is getting more popular as word spreads about the challenging course. We are happy to see the race grow as more people become aware of the area and all we have to offer,” he added.
Local volunteers from Arkansas Ultra Runners Association (AURA) and LOViT Traildogs manned the registration desk and three aid stations strategically placed along the trail.